Hands On: Google Maps app for iOS

As ironic as it may seem, if there was one thing iOS users cannot live without, it would have to be Google Maps. Sure, there may be other mapping services such as the ever-popular Waze, or even Nokia’s Here mapping service that was announced not too long ago, but in less than 24 hours (7 hours to be precise) since the arrival of the Google Maps App for iOS, it has already top the charts, in iTunes U.S. at least.

So how is the Google Maps app for iOS compared to Google Maps elsewhere? For starters, it comes with the same features like showing you a rather updated map (of Malaysia as well in case you were wondering) and it can provide routing for you to go from point A to point B via car, public transit or by walking. It also has got various layers like satellite view and traffic view; there’s also a Google Earth option but as always, that is not available in Malaysia, yet.

Find out more after the break.

Interface wise, things has changed a little, it is now easier for you to search for your destination because the search text box is right at the top. Because I’ve used Google Now before, my profile comes with two fixed places – one for home and one for work.

Once done searching for a place, like KLCC for instance, you can use gestures to find out more; simply drag the menu below upwards, and you will be greeted with a list of nearby places. To get directions, just click on the car icon (or public transit icon depending on how you travel) and here comes my favorite part, Google lists out different routes you can take and the different time it takes to reach your destination for each route; you can even switch your routing options by swiping the menu below to left or right.

There is a new preview option that allows you to preview the route ahead and in case you were wondering, no, it does not come with voice-guided navigation. If you turn off the traffic layer, Maps will only show you the traffic on the route you will be taking, providing a much cleaner and much simpler view.

Another notable feature would be a description page of the place you search for. While this has always been available for Google Maps on desktop or even Android devices, the new interface change makes it much easier to see the reviews and ratings.